The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) recently issued proposed force-placed insurance regulations to reduce premiums and eliminate kickbacks that it claims are pervasive in the industry. The regulations will take effect 30 days after publication...

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) is currently tracking evacuations due to wildfires in the state, including the recovery efforts after the Clover Fire near Redding that left 68 residences destroyed, five damaged and the death of 56-year-old...

The Supreme Court of Alabama was asked, in Ex parte Tower Insurance Company of New York Inc. , 1120228 (Ala. 08/23/2013) [ enhanced version available to lexis.com subscribers ],, to grant a petition for a writ of mandamus filed by an insurance company...

Congress passed the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act just two months before Sandy scoured the northeast, and “requires rates to rise 25 percent annually on some repeatedly flooded houses, second homes and businesses,” and on properties...

The California Department of Insurance is currently tracking evacuations due to wildfires in the state, including the Rim Fire in Yosemite. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is reminding wildfire evacuees that they may be eligible for reimbursement for...

Fraud detectives and the Department of Insurance Investigation Division’s Disaster and Recovery Team (DART) have been deployed to help educate residents about potential scams that target wildfire victims. The teams have coordinated with the Riverside...

The CFPB has proposed changes to the Regulation Z prohibition on financing credit insurance premiums (Section 1026.36(i)) [ enhanced version available to lexis.com subscribers ], as part of several new proposed amendments to the mortgage rules it adopted...

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) is currently tracking evacuations due to wildfires in the state, including the Mountain Fire near Riverside. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is reminding wildfire evacuees that they may be eligible for reimbursement...

By Barry Zalma, Attorney and Consultant
Insurance is a contract of personal indemnity and does not follow the title in the land. When parties enter into lease agreements of real or personal property both the lessor and lessee have an insurable interest...

Insurance policies, including homeowner's policies, can provide coverage from losses from fraud, embezzlement or forgery. But does it work to provide compensation for losses in a Ponzi scheme?
Last year, the Second Circuit affirmed a district court's...

While much debate has centered around coverage for construction defects, the parties have at least known where the claims are coming from - a structure is set out to be built, something doesn't go right and repairs need to be made. But in IMG Worldwide...

By Richard D. Vetstein, ESQ
One little mistake in drafting and recording legal documents during a refinance can result in a huge problem for a lender - such as the lender having no legal ability to enforce the mortgage! (A slight problem..) GMAC Mortgage...

By the Ballard Spahr LLP Mortgage Banking Group
The federal banking agencies, together with the Farm Credit Administration, have issued joint guidance on amendments to the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (FDPA). The amendments were part of the...

By Robert A. Scott
Title insurance companies can enforce exculpatory provisions in title insurance policies that exclude liability for tort claims based on a negligent title search performed by an agent, Maryland's highest court has ruled.
In...

By William T. Barker, Partner, SNR Denton LLP
The Millers purchased a home with severe preexisting water and mold damage which they and their home inspector failed to detect. In Miller v. Safeco Insurance Co of Am., the Seventh Circuit held that...

THE MISCHIEVIOUS CLASS ACTION
Home mortgage lenders are always concerned that their security is appropriately protected by insurance. As a result, by the terms and conditions, of the mortgage the lender keeps to itself the right to compel the borrower...

Jing on Insurance Coverage for Construction Defects: Recent Developments in Federal and State Law by Audrey J. Jing of Kelley, Drye & Warren LLP examines the current split among jurisdictions as to whether a claim for defective workmanship falls within...

By Richard B. Friedman, J. Stephen Berry, and P. Michael Freed, Attorneys, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
In their commentary, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP on a Roadmap for Determining Coverage for Construction Defect Claims in New York , by Richard...